What determines fast vs slow feathering?

[RosemaryDuck]

Hey all! Just curious about something. My 2 EE chicks are growing like weeds right now. They'll both be 8 days old today. The larger of the 2, Scramble, is absolutely massive. She hatched huge (not weight wise, just large and tall). She's growing fast, but feathering slow. Meanwhile, Omelette (her sibling) is feathering really fast but is still relatively small.

I'm wondering if this depends heavily on whatever hen they were from or if it's on the roosters side that determines feathering rates.
I know EEs are pretty much barnyard mixes/mutts so Im sure that effects it too.

Sorry if the question is a bit confusing! And thanks in advance for any answers.

 

[CluckerFamily]

It does depend on parents. It could also be a sign you have a cockerel but EEs are hard to tell until they are 8 weeks old.

 

[1dog1cat6chicks]

I have four Easter egger chicks. Three look similar, the fourth is white--and a cockerel, despite being bought as a pullet. He has definitely been slower to feather out than the other three, but since his parentage is obviously different than the other three, not sure if it's due to that, or the fact that he's a he!

 

[2ndTink]

I only have experience with our 6 EE's this year and they are just shy of 5 weeks. 3 feathered out rapidly, 3 slowly. Of those 3 fluff balls the one who's body grew the fastest has already developed rust splotches on his shoulders and has comb development and the folks here are pretty confidently voting cockerel. The slowest body growing fuzz ball is also receiving tentative cockeral votes, while the fastest feathering of the slow feathering chicks might actually be a pullet (I hope!).

I saw the difference at 1 to 2 weeks, exact accuracy yet to be determined!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I know that chicks tend to feather slightly faster If kept on the cooler side too when being raised in brooders. Maybe since the one is smaller she has less body heat and is trying to compensate

 

[Folly's place]

Fast feathering is random, unless the parents are bred and selected for this trait to differentiate males from females. Other things to look for are thicker legs, a larger more red comb and wattles, pointed hackle feathers, and finally those saddle feathers and the crow, all in males.
EEs can be harder to sex sometimes, having small combs and coming in any color combination.
Mary

 

[RosemaryDuck]

I'm like 70% sure Scrambles a rooster. He's already getting a very red face/beak pretty young. That and he's still pretty large compared to Omelette. But we'll see .